Pain management in the final weeks and months of companion animal life remains inconsistent, with many animals experiencing unnecessary suffering because owners and veterinarians underestimate or under-treat terminal pain.
Animals in terminal illness experience pain with the same neurological mechanisms as humans, but cannot communicate it directly. Owners often misinterpret reduced activity, social withdrawal, or altered posture as depression or acceptance rather than pain. Undertreated pain in dying companion animals causes suffering that persists for weeks or months before euthanasia or natural death. The growing specialty of veterinary palliative care aims to close this gap — providing structured pain assessment, hospice support, and quality-of-life guidance to owners navigating the final chapter of their animal's life.